Tag

Homo Erectus

All articles tagged with #homo erectus

science19 days ago•4 min saved

Meat-Driven Growth Spurts Shaped Early Humans, Study Finds

A new study analyzing 386 hominin fossils across 21 species and 1,000 models suggests body size rose steadily in early humans until about 2 million years ago, when a shift to higher meat intake and improved bipedalism coincided with a rapid ~50-pound increase. This growth likely boosted long-distance travel, hunting, and predator defense, helping Homo erectus and Homo ergaster reach modern-like weights, though some lineages like Homo floresiensis remained small. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, refines how we understand the pace and drivers of human size evolution.

via New York Post|

#australopithecus #bipedalism #homo-erectus

anthropology21 days ago•9 min saved

Late-Stage Size Jump in Homo Rewrites Hominin Growth Story

A University of Reading-led analysis of 386 fossil specimens across 21 hominin species used phylogenetically informed models to test how body size evolved. Contrary to a simple, steady increase, the data point to a major size jump late in the genus Homo, with Homo ergaster/erectus reaching ~60 kg on average and aligning with other shifts like increased bipedality and carnivory. Small-bodied lineages such as Homo floresiensis and Homo naledi remain exceptions, and any gradual, across-the-board size rise is only moderately supported and sensitive to dataset and methods. The study highlights a mosaic pattern of body-size evolution rather than a single upward trend.

via Sci.News|

#anthropology #body-size-evolution #hominin

archaeology1 month ago•44 min saved

Ancient fire inside Wonderwerk Cave rewrites early human timeline

A new PLOS One study finds repeated burning in Wonderwerk Cave deposits dated to about 1.07–1.79 million years ago, among the oldest known records of hominin fire use. By analyzing 161 small-mammal bones with FTIR and bone luminescence, researchers detected heating deep inside the cave (at least 30 meters in) in distinct clusters, suggesting early Homo erectus populations carried and maintained fire for warmth, light, and protection—well before cooking became widespread.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#archaeology #early-humans #fire-use

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Ancient tooth proteins reveal Homo erectus left a genetic fingerprint in today’s humans

Proteomic analysis of 400,000-year-old Homo erectus teeth uncovers a unique amino‑acid variant shared with Denisovans and present in modern SE Asian and Oceanian populations (about 21% in the Philippines, ~1% in India), suggesting interbreeding and a mosaic ancestry rather than a single lineage. The study highlights how paleoproteomics can reveal genetic connections from old hominin lineages and points to a broader pattern of admixture among ancient humans.

via The Conversation|

#archaic-introgression #denisovans #homo-erectus

science2 months ago•182 min saved

Enamel clues link Homo erectus to Denisovans in a web-like human tree

Scientists extracted ancient enamel proteins from six Homo erectus teeth found in three sites in China (about 400,000 years old) using a new, minimally invasive enamel-etching technique. They identified two shared amino acid variants, one of which also appears in Denisovans and some modern humans, suggesting interbreeding between Homo erectus, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens and supporting a networked view of human evolution. The study relied on proteins (not DNA) and analyzed teeth from Hexian and Zhoukoudian, with five males and one female identified, highlighting open questions about how these populations relate to each other.

via CNN|

#ancient-proteins #denisovans #hominin-interbreeding

science2 months ago•43 min saved

Enamel proteins link six Chinese H. erectus to Denisovan gene flow

Ancient enamel proteomics recovered endogenous proteins from six Middle Pleistocene Homo erectus teeth across northern and southern China (~0.4 Ma) and a Denisovan tooth. The study identifies two AMBN variants: a novel AMBN A253G found in all six H. erectus samples and not in other hominins, and AMBN M273V shared with Denisovans, suggesting Denisovans may have inherited this region from an H. erectus–related population. The results imply interactions between East Asian H. erectus populations and Denisovans and support the idea that H. erectus contributed to Denisovan DNA, with some signals ultimately reaching modern humans via introgression. Phylogenetic analyses cluster the H. erectus samples together, illustrating the power of enamel proteomics to illuminate deep human evolution and population diversity in East Asia.

via Nature|

#denisovans #east-asia #homo-erectus

science4 months ago•185 min saved

Mosquito clues push back Southeast Asia’s human arrival timeline

DNA analyses of Anopheles mosquitoes in Southeast Asia suggest the shift to human blood-feeding happened 2.9–1.6 million years ago in Sundaland, implying Homo erectus may have been present in numbers sufficient to drive the adaptation and offering a new clue to the timing of early human arrival in the region where fossil remains are sparse.

via CNN|

#homo-erectus #human-evolution #mosquitoes

paleontology7 months ago•54 min saved

Ethiopian Fossil Finds Illuminate Human Evolution and Migration

A new reconstruction of the DAN5/P1 cranium from Gona, Ethiopia, reveals a unique combination of early Homo and H. erectus features, suggesting complex population structure and evolution in African Homo during the Early Pleistocene, with implications for understanding the emergence of H. erectus.

via Nature|

#cranial-morphology #dan5p1 #east-africa

science9 months ago•4 min saved

Million-year-old Chinese skull may reshape human evolution history

A reconstructed million-year-old skull found in China suggests humans diverged from their ancestors 400,000 years earlier than previously thought, potentially in Asia rather than Africa, challenging existing timelines and highlighting the complexity of human evolution.

via CBS News|

#china #fossil-discovery #homo-erectus

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Ancient Hominins and Stone Tools Rewrite Indonesian Migration Timeline

Ancient stone tools found on Sulawesi, Indonesia, date back over 1 million years, indicating early human presence and oceanic crossing much earlier than previously thought, possibly by Homo erectus or related species, highlighting Sulawesi's significant role in human evolution.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#early-humans #homo-erectus #homo-floresiensis

science11 months ago•7 min saved

Ancient Stone Tools Reveal Early Human Presence in Indonesia

Archaeologists discovered the oldest stone tools on Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back over 1 million years, suggesting early human ancestors may have inhabited the island and possibly influenced the evolution of Homo floresiensis, the 'hobbit' humans. The findings raise questions about how these early humans crossed oceans and their connection to other island populations, with ongoing research aiming to uncover more fossils and understand their origins.

via CNN|

#ancient-humans #archaeology #homo-erectus

science11 months ago•4 min saved

Ancient Giants and Humans Discovered in 140,000-Year-Old Underwater Land

Archaeologists discovered over 6,000 fossils, including early human remains and ancient animal species, beneath Indonesian seas, revealing a thriving ecosystem from over 140,000 years ago and providing new insights into early human life and migration in Southeast Asia.

via Rude Baguette|

#ancient-ecosystem #fossils #homo-erectus

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Ancient Sunken World Reveals 140,000-Year-Old Beasts and Human Ancestors

Archaeologists have discovered 140,000-year-old fossils, including Homo erectus skull fragments and over 6,000 animal remains, beneath the sea off Indonesia, revealing a once-thriving landmass called Sundaland that supported diverse ecosystems and early human activity, reshaping our understanding of prehistoric Southeast Asia.

via Indian Defence Review|

#archaeology #fossils #homo-erectus

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Ancient 140,000-Year-Old Sunken World Unveiled Beneath the Ocean

Archaeologists discovered 140,000-year-old Homo erectus fossils and thousands of other species beneath the ocean off Indonesia, revealing a once-thriving landmass called Sundaland and providing new insights into early human migration and environment in Southeast Asia.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#fossil-discovery #homo-erectus #marine-archaeology

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Ancient 140,000-Year-Old City Discovered Beneath the Ocean

Scientists discovered a 140,000-year-old city beneath the ocean in Indonesia, including fossils of Homo erectus and other species, providing evidence of a lost world and insights into early human activity and environment during the Middle Pleistocene.

via Daily Express US|

#fossils #homo-erectus #prehistoric